(a) (1) For purposes of this section, âearly childhood mental health consultation serviceâ means a service benefiting a child who is served in a California state preschool program. (2) For purposes of this section, âearly childhood mental health consultation serviceâ includes, but is not limited to, all of the following: (A) Support for providers, parents, legal guardians, and caregivers to create trauma-informed, proactive inclusive environments and to respond effectively to all children. (B) Assistance through individual site consultations, provision of resources, formulation of training plans, referrals, and other methods that address the unique needs of programs and providers. (C) Aid to providers, parents, legal guardians, and caregivers, and encouragement and facilitation of collaboration and communication, in developing the skills and tools needed to be successful as they support the development and early learning of all children, including observing environments, facilitating the development of action plans, and supporting site implementation of those plans. (D) The development of strategies for addressing prevalent child mental health concerns, including internalizing problems, such as appearing withdrawn, and externalizing problems, such as exhibiting persistent and serious behaviors. (E) If a child exhibits persistent and serious behaviors, support with the pursuit and documentation of reasonable steps to maintain the childâs safe participation in the program, as described in Section 8489.1. (F) Face-to-face interactions or video-based platforms and other modes of communication that are compliant with the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (Public Law 104-191), such as the telephone. (G) Group or individual consultations of any of the actions described in this paragraph. (b) The cost to an agency of providing an early childhood mental health consultation service shall be reimbursable pursuant to Section 8244 if all of the following apply: (1) The early childhood mental health consultation service is provided on a schedule of sufficient and consistent frequency continuously throughout the program year, to significantly contribute to all of the following: (A) Improving interpersonal relationships and child outcomes. (B) Increasing the confidence, competence, and well-being of those consulted. (C) Eliminating suspensions and expulsions. (2) (A) The early childhood mental health consultation service is provided by one of the following persons: (i) A licensed mental health professional, including a marriage and family therapist, a licensed clinical social worker, a licensed professional clinical counselor, a licensed psychologist, a licensed child and adolescent psychiatrist, a credentialed school counselor, or a school psychologist credentialed pursuant to Section 44266 and employed pursuant to Section 49400. The person described in this subparagraph shall have at least three years of experience providing mental health services to children zero to five years of age, inclusive, shall have training in infant, family, and early childhood mental health, shall be adequately insured, shall have held their respective license for a minimum of two years, and shall be in full compliance with all continuing education requirements applicable to their profession. (ii) A license-eligible marriage and family therapist, a license-eligible clinical social worker, a license-eligible professional clinical counselor, a license-eligible psychologist, or a license-eligible child and adolescent psychiatrist, who is supervised by a person meeting all of the requirements described in clause (i). (iii) A person holding, at a minimum, a masterâs degree in a field related to mental health or human services, including, but not limited to, marriage and family therapy, clinical social work, professional clinical counseling, infant mental health, human development, human services, psychology, school psychology, chi
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